Apparatus for producing sculptures.



*4. J d I I G. ERDBRUGGER. APPARATUS FOR PRODUGINGSGULPTURES.APPLIOATIONAIILED MAB. a, 1910.

972,173. 4 Patented 0t. 11,1910.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAV ERDBR'O'GGER, OF ANDERTEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN-MENTS, TO RELIEFOGRAPI-I COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING SCULPTURES.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, GUSTAV ERDBRr'ioeER, a subject of the GermanEmperor, residing at Anderten, in the Province of Hanover, in Germany,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forProducing Sculptures, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention pertains to an apparatus for producing positive ornegative sculptures from photographs, designs, engravings or pictures ofany kind.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus for producingsculptures from photographs, etc., that will not only assist the artist,but enable even laymen to produce sculptures, of artistic finishspeedily and cheaply, and will also serve as a means of instruction.

()wing to the simplicity of the apparatus, the same may be utilized invarious branches of industry, as, for instance, metal, porcelain, glass,stoneware, stucco, wallpaper, celluloid, chocolate, etc.

To make my invention more clear, the same is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 shows a system of stencils andthe elastic base holding the photograph, picture or design and theplastic material; Fig. 2 a cross section thereof in folded or closedposition; Fig. 3 a front view of the finished sculpture and Fig. 4c asection therethrough.

My apparatus comprises a plurality of previously prepared, nonfleXiblestencils, in the present example three, a, Z) and c, which correspond indesign with the contour of the photograph or picture from which thesculpture is to be molded. To the stencil c a base of elastic material,as a rubber sheet, is suitably attached. The three stencils areSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 8, 1910.

Patented Oct. 11, 1910.

Serial No. 548,083.

hinged together at d and are provided with suitable locking means, asfor instance, hooks 6, etc., whereby the same can be locked together inclosed position. The photograph or picture f is suitably fastenedbetween the two stencils a and b and on the elastic base 0 the plasticmaterial 9 is adapted to be placed. 'Upon impregnation and dampening ofthe picture f with a suitable chemical, as glycerin or the like, wherebythe picture is rendered more flexible, the stencils are folded upon oneanother and locked in closed position (as shown in Fig. 2), which causesthe plastic material and the elastic base extending over the cut outportion of the stencil to project through that cut out portionoutwardly. By pressing against the back of the outwardly projecting partof the rubber sheet the plastic material will be caused to fill thehollowed out portion of the impregnated or dampened picture and make thelatter project outwardly through the stencil a. By holding the apparatuswith the picture upward and pressing with the fingers against the backof the rubber sheet, the sculpture can be produced.

WVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

An apparatus for producing sculptures, comprising a plurality ofpreviously prepared stencils, and an elastic base, said stencils andbase being hinged to one another to fold one on top of the other andmeans for locking them at the opposite sides to one another.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GUSTAV ERDBRUGGER.

Witnesses:

MAX D. ORDMAN, JOHN I. CARMODY.

